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San Diego Community Power is exploring the opportunity to offer an equivalent Real-Time Pricing pilot rate based on a proposal by SDG&E to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This pilot is designed to pass along the wholesale cost of electricity — the “commodity cost” — directly to large commercial customers.
The pilot rate aims to support California’s climate goals by encouraging customers to shift their energy use based on hourly price signals, which can help reduce electric bills, lower greenhouse gas emissions and make the electric grid more efficient.
If implemented, customers enrolled in the Real-Time Pricing pilot rate would receive hourly electric pricing a day in advance. Prices would be posted on SDG&E’s website by 6 p.m. each evening and go into effect the next day.
Customers would retrieve the hourly rates online and use this data to estimate their costs and adjust usage accordingly — helping save money and reduce strain on the grid during peak hours.
Joining the pilot rate comes with several advantages for both customers and the broader energy system.
Lower electric bills through smart energy use
Greater load flexibility to support renewable energy integration
Reduced evening peak demand, increasing grid reliability
Less risk of rolling blackouts
More energy use during periods of renewable energy surplus
Stage 1 of the pilot is limited to 100 eligible medium-to-large commercial and industrial customers. To qualify, customers must:
Be on one of the following rate schedules: AL-TOU, AL-TOU-2 or A6-TOU
Have at least one year of hourly usage data available
Not currently be enrolled in any of the following programs:
Participants will need to opt out of any disqualifying programs and should note that legacy rate plans cannot be reinstated once forfeited.
Community Power is evaluating customer interest in offering a real-time pricing option. If you’re eligible and think this rate might be a good fit for your business, we’d love to hear from you — reach out to us at Info@SDCommunityPower.org.